If you may be at risk for kidney disease, consider scheduling a kidney screening with your primary care physician (PCP) for your next checkup. No cost screenings are offered in some areas as well. To learn more about screenings, you may want to contact The Kidney TRUST™, an organization aimed at increasing awareness of kidney disease through public education and testing programs, to learn more.

What is involved in a kidney screening?

Because there are often no symptoms of kidney disease, laboratory tests are critical. When you get a screening, a trained technician will draw blood that will be tested for creatinine, a waste product. If kidney function is abnormal, creatinine levels will increase in the blood due to decreased excretion of creatinine in the urine. Your glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which indicates the person’s stage of CKD, will also be calculated. The GFR factors in age, gender, creatinine level and ethnicity. Together, the results provide an evaluation of kidney function.

What to do when you get your results

If the screening shows that kidney function is normal, you’re in good shape. Nonetheless, be sure to schedule regular kidney screenings to monitor risk for developing kidney disease.

If you learn that you have CKD, there are many resources to help you manage it. In many cases, kidney failure can be prevented or delayed through early detection and proper treatment of underlying diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. You can also help delay the progression of kidney disease by:

Adhering to an eating plan with the right amounts of sodium, fluid and protein

Exercising

Avoiding dehydration

For people who are ready to consider dialysis treatment options, use the Find a Kidney Doctor tool. Your doctor will work with you to identify the treatment options to better fit your lifestyle.

Do something good for your kidneys. Schedule a kidney screening today.

More Articles in Scheduling A Kidney Screening

Could you or someone you care about have chronic kidney disease (CKD)? One in 10 adults age 20 or older in the United States have CKD, and many others are at risk and don’t even know it. Discover what a kidney screening involves, what to do when you get the results and why being screened is important to your overall health. Learn More >>

This site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from a physician.
Please check with a physician if you need a diagnosis and/or for treatments as well as information regarding your specific condition. If you are experiencing urgent medical conditions, call 9-1-1